Denver dispatcher accused of mishandling fatal 911 call resigns

By Ryan Parker

Jun 09, 2014 | 5:46 PM

A Denver 911 dispatcher accused of mishandling a 12-minute domestic violence call that led to a woman being killed, resigned before she could be fired Friday, according to the Denver Department of Public Safety.

On April 15, Richard Kirk allegedly fatally shot his wife, Kristine Kirk, at their University of Denver neighborhood home, in front of their three boys.

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Kristine initally told the dispatcher her husband was hallucinating after taking some pain medication and marijuana.

Kirk then allegedly retrieved a gun from a safe and shot his wife while she was still on the phone with the dispatcher. Police arrived shortly thereafter.

In their report, Denver police said had they known the suspect was brandishing a weapon, they would have stepped up their response.

The case led to changes in policy, said Daelene Mix, spokeswoman for the department of safety.

Once an officer is notified by dispatch there is a weapon involved in a domestic dispute call, they will go to code "zero," meaning they respond as fast as possible, Mix said.

Richard Kirk was charged with first-degree murder and remains in jail.